Rehabilitation of patients with postoperative deficits cranial nerves VIII through XII

Increasingly aggressive surgical attack upon disease in and about the base of the skull will continue to produce various combinations of deficits of the 8th through 12th cranial nerves. Although isolated paralyses of these nerves usually can be managed with little difficulty, various combinations of paralyses can result in loss of airway, voice, or swallowing functions that are challenging to the head and neck surgeon. A thorough understanding of the disordered physiologic conditions that these lesions can produce, coupled with a logical medical and surgical approach to their management, may result in better rehabilitation of these patients.